The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) hosts another Bards & Brews, the popular monthly poetry slam/beer tasting at the Central Library emceed by poetry slam events director Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins. September's Bards & Brews will be on Friday the 16th, NOT the first Friday, and will be part of the line-up for the first annual Eat Drink Read Write Festival http://www.bplonline.org/eatdrinkfest. The September event will feature the winners of past Bards & Brews slams. The first place winner receives $100, second place winner $75, and third place winner $50. We're also looking for warm-up poets to perform/read original poems related to food and drink. Free the Hops (FTH) will provide information about craft beers. Back Forty Beer Company and Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company will provide beer for sampling. Continental Bakery/Chez Lulu will donate refreshments.

You must be 18 years or older to be admitted and 21 years or older to be served. IDs will be checked. Live music at 6:30 p.m. Call time is 7:00 p.m. Check out the Bards & Brews page on Facebook for more information. This program is made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Word up, y’all!

Bards & Brews: Birmingham Public Library Poetry Slam Series
Central Library, 2100 Park Place
1st Friday of every month, except September
6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Live music and sign-up is at 6:30
Call time is at 7:00

Additional information:
Brian Hawkins (AKA Brian “Voice” Porter) will serve as emcee for the Bards & Brews Poetry Slam. He is a full-time performance artist and poetry slam events director. Mr. Hawkins has hosted "On Stage at the Carver" at the Carver Theater, the longest running poetry open mic in Birmingham (almost 7 years running). He has hosted numerous additional events of this nature and has also performed his own works many times across the country.